SHILLONG, APR 15: The legal cell of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday expressed its concern over the manner in which state government’s court cases are being handled and felt that appointment of lawyers has to be ‘properly scrutinized’.
The Legal and Human Rights Departments (LHRD), which was reconstituted earlier on February this year, has also seek to play a pivotal role to ensure there is no disputes arising out of laws passed by state government and KHADC.
Headed by a senior advocate of the Meghalaya High Court, VGK Kynta, the LHRD held its first sitting yesterday to deliberate on the various issues concerning the state.
“Government cases has to be taken up with right earnest and we are of the view that such cases should be conducted by trained and experience lawyers,” LHRD chairman VGK Kynta told newsmen on Friday.
Stating that the cell is going to conduct a follow up in this regard, he said, “We want to ensure that the lawyers appointed on behalf of the state government, be at the High Court, Supreme Court or Lower Court should be properly scrutinized.”
According to him, appointment should be based on the number of years and experience rather than those with few months of practice, which at the moment is happening.
When asked, Kynta, who himself was an assistant public prosecutor for over 14 years, said, “We have noticed that cases on behalf of the state government doesn’t appear to be rosy because most of the cases ends in discharge or acquittal.”
The chairman also informed that the LHRD would also examine into the issue related to the number of disputes between the State government and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), in which both the Congress is in ruling.
“This is to ensure there is no conflict in the laws passed by both,” he said while stating that there has been no such laws made by the KHADC which have exceeded the parameters of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Referring to Para 12 (A) of the Sixth Schedule, he however said if the Autonomous District Councils are framing laws in conflict, the laws of the state government will prevail.
Observing that there have been huge agitations on empowering the traditional institutions in the state, Kynta said, “We are here to also help the traditional bodies and see that custom and traditions will have to be protected and preserved in accordance to age old customary practices.”
Highlighting on the other roles, the senior advocate said that the job of this legal cell apart from advising the party, will also be active in the interest and concern of the people of the state in various department concerning legal affairs.
Stating that the cell will be part of the law making process, he said that it is fit and proper to be aware of the laws made by the state government by taking part in the law making process.
Meanwhile the other members of the LHRD includes R Jana Nongbet as member secretary, Kenny Wahlang, Purabi Sarma, Sunil Kumar Agarwal, Daniel Stone Lyngdoh, Kynphamlin Kharlyngdoh and Wanbhabok Virgil Marbaniang as members.-By Our Reporter
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